Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

The laws of this chapter provide, I. For the preserving of the
purity and honour of the families of Israel, by excluding such as would be a
disgrace to them (v. 1-8). II. For the preserving of the purity and honour of
the camp of Israel when it was abroad (v. 9-14). III. For the encouraging and
entertaining of slaves who fled to them (v. 15, 16). IV. Against whoredom (v.
17, 18). V. Against usury (v. 19, 20). IV. Against the breach of vows (v. 21-23).
VII. What liberty a man might take in his neighbour's field and vineyard, and
what not (v. 23, 25).

Verses 1-8

Interpreters are not agreed what is here meant by entering
into the congregation of the Lord, which is here forbidden to eunuchs and to
bastards, Ammonites and Moabites, for ever, but to Edomites and Egyptians only
till the third generation. 1. Some think they are hereby excluded from
communicating with the people of God in their religious services. Though eunuchs
and bastards were owned as members of the church, and the Ammonites and Moabites
might be circumcised and proselyted to the Jewish religion, yet they and their
families must lie for some time under marks of disgrace, remembering the rock
whence they were hewn, and must not come so near the sanctuary as others might,
nor have so free a communion with Israelites. 2. Others think they are hereby
excluded from bearing office in the congregation: none of these must be elders
or judges, lest the honour of the magistracy should thereby be stained. 3.
Others think they are excluded only from marrying with Israelites. Thus the
learned bishop Patrick inclines to understand it; yet we find that when this law
was put in execution after the captivity they separated from Israel, not only
the strange wives, but all the mixed multitude, see Neh. 13:1-2. With the
daughters of these nations (though out of the nations of Canaan), it should
seem, the men of Israel might marry, if they were completely proselyted to the
Jewish religion; but with the men of these nations the daughters of Israel might
not marry, nor could the men be naturalized otherwise than as here provided.

It is plain, in general, that disgrace is here put,

I. Upon bastards and eunuchs, v. 1, 2. By bastards here the
Jewish writers understand, not all that were born of fornication, or out of
marriage, but all the issue of those incestuous mixtures which are forbidden,
Lev. 18. And, though it was not the fault of the issue, yet, to deter people
from those unlawful marriages and unlawful lusts, it was very convenient that
their posterity should thus be made infamous. By this rule Jephthah, though the
son of a harlot, a strange woman (Jdg. 11:1, 2), yet was not a bastard in the
sense of this law. And as for the eunuchs, though by this law they seemed to be
cast out of the vineyard as dry trees, which they complain of (Isa. 56:3), yet
it is here promised (v. 5) that if they took care of their duty to God, as far
as they were admitted, by keeping his sabbaths and choosing the things that
pleased him, the want of this privilege should be made up to them with such
spiritual blessings as would entitle them to an everlasting name.

II. Upon Ammonites and Moabites, the posterity of Lot, who, for
his outward convenience, had separated himself from Abraham, Gen. 13:11. And we
do not find that he or his ever joined themselves again to the children of the
covenant. They are here cut off to the tenth generation, that is, (as
some think it is explained), for ever. Compare Neh. 13:1. The reason of this
quarrel which Israel must have with them, so as not to seek their peace
(v. 6), is because of the unkindness they had now lately done to the camp of
Israel, notwithstanding the orders God had given not to distress or vex them, ch.
2:9, 19. 1. It was bad enough that they did not meet them with bread and
water in the way (v. 4), that they did not as allies, or at least as neutral
states, bring victuals into their camp, which they should have been duly paid
for. It was well that God's Israel did not need their kindness, God himself
following them with bread and water. However this omission of the Ammonites
should be remembered against their nation in future ages. Note, God will
certainly reckon, not only with those that oppose his people, but with those
that do not help and further them, when it is in the power of their hand to do
it. The charge at the great day is for an omission: I was hungry, and you
gave me no meat. 2. The Moabites had done worse, they hired Balaam to curse
Israel, v. 4. It is true God turned the curse into a blessing (v. 5), not
only changing the word in Balaam's mouth, but making that really turn to the
honour and advantage of Israel which was designed for their ruin. But though the
design was defeated, and overruled for good, the Moabites' wickedness was not
the less provoking. God will deal with sinners, but according to their
endeavours, Ps. 28:4.

III. The Edomites and Egyptians had not so deep a mark of
displeasure put upon them as the Moabites and Ammonites had. If an Edomite or
Egyptian turned proselyte, his grand-children should be looked upon as members
of the congregation of the Lord to all intents and purposes, v. 7, 8. We should
think that the Edomites had been more injurious to the Israelites than the
Ammonites, and deserved as little favour from them (Num. 20:20), and yet "Thou
shalt not abhor an Edomite, as thou must an Ammonite, for he is thy brother."
Note, The unkindness of near relations, though by many worst taken, yet should
with us, for that reason, because of the relation, be first forgiven. And then,
as to the Egyptians, here is a strange reason given why they must not be
abhorred: "Thou wast a stranger in their land, and therefore, though
hardly used there, be civil to them, for old acquaintance' sake." They
must not remember their bondage in Egypt for the keeping up of any ill will to
the Egyptians, but only for the magnifying of Gods power and goodness in their
deliverance.

Verses 9-14

Israel was now encamped, and this vast army was just entering
upon action, which was likely to keep them together for a long time, and
therefore it was fit to give them particular directions for the good ordering of
their camp. And the charge is in one word to be clean. They must take
care to keep their camp pure from moral, ceremonial, and natural pollution.

I. From moral pollution (v. 9): When the host goes forth
against thy enemy then look upon thyself as in a special manner engaged to keep
thyself from every evil thing. 1. The soldiers themselves must take heed of
sin, for sin takes off the edge of valour; guilt makes men cowards. Those that
put their lives in their hands are concerned to make and keep their peace with
God, and preserve a conscience void of offence; then may they look death in the
face without terror. Soldiers, in executing their commission, must keep
themselves from gratifying the lusts of malice, covetousness, or uncleanness,
for these are wicked thingsmust keep themselves from the idols, or accursed
things, they found in the camps they plundered. 2. Even those that tarried at
home, the body of the people, and every particular person, must at that time
especially keep from every wicked thing, lest by sin they provoke God to
withdraw his presence from the host, and give victory to the enemy for the
correcting of his own people. Times of war should be times of reformation, else
how can we expect God should hear and answer our prayers for success? Ps. 66:18.
See 1 Sa. 7:3.

II. From ceremonial pollution, which might befal a person when
unconscious of it, for which he was bound to wash his flesh in water, and look
upon himself as unclean until the evening, Lev. 15:16. A soldier,
notwithstanding the constant service and duty he had to do in the camp, must be
so far from looking upon himself as discharged from the observance of this
ceremony that more was required from him than at another time; had he been at
his own house, he needed only to wash his flesh, but, being in the army, he must
go abroad out of the camp, as one concerned to keep it pure and ashamed of his
own impurity, and not return till after sunset, v. 10, 11. By this trouble and
reproach, which even involuntary pollutions exposed men to, they were taught to
keep up a very great dread of all fleshly lusts. It were well if military men
would consider this.

III. From natural pollution; the camp of the Lord must have
nothing offensive in it, v. 12-14. It is strange that the divine law, or at
least the solemn order and direction of Moses, should extend to a thing of this
nature; but the design of it was to teach them, 1. Modesty and decorum; nature
itself teaches them thus to distinguish themselves from beasts that know no
shame. 2. Cleanliness, and, though not niceness, yet neatness, even in their
camp. Filthiness is offensive to the senses God has endued us with, prejudicial
to the health, a wrong to the comfort of human life, and an evidence of a
careless slothful temper of mind. 3. Purity from the pollutions of sin; if there
must be this care taken to preserve the body clean and sweet, much more should
we be solicitous to keep the mind so. 4. A reverence of the divine majesty. This
is the reason here given: For the Lord thy God walketh by his ark, the
special token of his presence, in the midst of thy camp; with respect to
that external symbol this external purity is required, which (though not
insisted on in the letter when that reason ceases) teaches us to preserve inward
purity of soul, in consideration of the eye of God, which is always upon us. By
this expression of respect to the presence of God among them, they were taught
both to fortify themselves against sin and to encourage themselves against their
enemies with the consideration of that presence. 5. A regard one to another. The
filthiness of one is noisome to many; this law of cleanliness therefore teaches
us not to do that which will be justly offensive to our brethren and grieve
them. It is a law against nuisances.

Verses 15-25

Orders are here given about five several things which have no
relation one to another:

I. The land of Israel is here made a sanctuary, or city of
refuge, for servants that were wronged and abused by their masters, and fled
thither for shelter from the neighbouring countries, v. 15, 16. We cannot
suppose that they were hereby obliged to give entertainment to all the
unprincipled men that ran from service; Israel needed not (as Rome at first did)
to be thus peopled. But, 1. They must not deliver up the trembling servant to
his enraged master, till upon trial it appeared that the servant has wronged his
master and was justly liable to punishment. Note, It is an honourable thing to
shelter and protect the weak, provided they be not wicked. God allows his people
to patronise the oppressed. The angel bid Hagar return to her mistress, and Paul
sent Onesimus back to his master Philemon, because they had neither of them any
cause to go away, nor was either of them exposed to any danger in returning. But
the servant here is supposed to escape, that is, to run for his life, to the
people of Israel, of whom he had heard (as Benhadad of the kings of Israel, 1 Ki.
20:31) that they were a merciful people, to save himself from the fury of a
tyrant; and in that case to deliver him up is to throw a lamb into the mouth of
a lion. 2. If it appeared that the servant was abused, they must not only
protect him, but, supposing him willing to embrace their religion, they must
give him all the encouragement that might be to settle among them. Care is taken
both that he should not be imposed up on in the place of his settlementlet it
be that which he shall choose and where it liketh him best, and
that he should not exchange one hard master for manythou shalt not oppress
him. Thus would he soon find a comfortable difference between the land of
Israel and other lands, and would choose it to be his rest for ever. Note,
Proselytes and converts to the truth should be treated with particular
tenderness, that they may have no temptation to return.

II. The land of Israel must be no shelter for the unclean; no
whore, no Sodomite, must be suffered to live among them (v. 17, 18), neither a
whore nor a whoremonger. No houses of uncleanness must be kept either by men or
women. Here is, 1. A good reason intimated why there should be no such
wickedness tolerated among them: they were Israelites. This seems to have an
emphasis laid upon it. For a daughter of Israel to be a whore, or a son of
Israel a whoremaster, is to reproach the stock they are come of, the people they
belong to, and the God they worship. It is bad in any, but worst in Israelites,
a holy nation, 2 Sa. 13:12. 2. A just mark of displeasure put upon this
wickedness, that the hire of a whore, that is, the money she gets by her
whoring, and the price of a dog, that is, of the Sodomite, pimp, or whoremaster
(so I incline to understand it, for such are called dogs, Rev. 22:15),
the money he gets by his lewd and villainous practices, no part of it shall be brought
into the house of the Lord (as the hire of prostitutes among the Gentiles
was into their temples) for any vow. This intimates, (1.) That God would
not accept of any offering at all from such wicked people; they had nothing to
bring an offering of but what they got by their wickedness, and therefore their
sacrifice could not but be an abomination to the Lord, Prov. 15:8. (2.)
That they should not think, by making and paying vows, and bringing offerings to
the Lord, to obtain leave to go on in this sin, as (it should seem) some that
followed that trade suggested to themselves, when their offerings were admitted.
Prov. 7:14, 15, This day have I paid my vows, therefore came I forth to meet
thee. Nothing should be accepted in commutation of penance. (3.) That we
cannot honour God with our substance unless it be honestly and honourably come
by. It must not only be considered what we give, but how we got it; God hates
robbery for burnt-offerings, and uncleanness too.

III. The matter of usury is here settled, v. 19, 20. (1.) They
must not lend upon usury to an Israelite. They had and held their estates
immediately from and under God, who, while he distinguished them from all other
people, might have ordered, had he so pleased, that they should have all things
in common among themselves; but instead of that, and in token of their joint
interest in the good land he had given them, he only appointed them, as there
was occasion, to lend to one another without interest, which among them would be
little or no loss to the lender, because their land was so divided, their
estates were so settled, and there was so little of merchandise among them, that
it was seldom or never that they had occasion to borrow any great sums, only
what was necessary for the subsistence of their families when the fruits of
their ground had met with any disaster, or the like; and, in such a case, for a
small matter to insist upon usury would have been very barbarous. Where the
borrower gets, or hopes to get, it is just that the lender should share in the
gain; but to him that borrows for his necessary food pity must be shown, and we
must lend, hoping for nothing again, if we have wherewithal to do it, Lu. 6:35.
(2.) They might lend upon usury to a stranger, who was supposed to live by
trade, and (as we say) by turning the penny, and therefore got by what he
borrowed, and came among them in hopes to do so. By this it appears that usury
is not in itself oppressive; for they must not oppress a stranger, and yet might
exact usury from him.

IV. The performance of the vows wherewith we have bound our
souls is here required; and it is a branch of the law of nature, v. 21-23.
(1.) We are here left at our liberty whether we will make vows or no: If thou
shalt forbear to vow (some particular sacrifice and offering, more than was
commanded by the law), it shall be no sin to thee. God had already
signified his readiness to accept a free-will offering thus vowed, though it
were but a little fine flour (Lev. 2:4, etc.), which was encouragement enough to
those who were so inclined. But lest the priests, who had the largest share of
those vows and voluntary offerings, should sponge upon the people, by pressing
it upon them as their duty to make such vows, beyond their ability and
inclination, they are here expressly told that it should not be reckoned a sin
in them if they did not make any such vows, as it would be if they omitted any
of the sacrifices that God had particularly required. For (as bishop Patrick
well expresses it) God would have men to be easy in his service, and all their
offerings to be free and cheerful. (2.) We are here laid under the highest
obligations, when we have made a vow, to perform it, and to perform it speedily:
"Thou shalt not be slack to pay it, lest if it be delayed beyond the
first opportunity the zeal abate, the vow be forgotten, or something happen to
disable thee for the performance of it. That which has gone out of thy lips
as a solemn and deliberate vow must not be recalled, but thou shalt keep and
perform it, punctually and fully." The rule of the gospel goes somewhat
further than this. 2 Co. 9:7, Every one, according as he purposeth in his
heart, though it have not gone out of his lips, so let him give. Here
is a good reason why we should pay our vows, that if we do not God will
require it of us, will surely and severely reckon with us, not only for
lying, but for going about to mock him, who cannot be mocked. See Eccl. 5:4.

V. Allowance is here given, when they passed through a cornfield
or vineyard, to pluck and eat of the corn or grapes that grew by the road-side,
whether it was done for necessity or delight, only they must carry none away
with them, v. 24, 25. Therefore the disciples were not censured for plucking the
ears of corn (it was well enough known that the law allowed it), but for doing
it on the sabbath day, which the tradition of the elders had forbidden. Now, 1.
This law intimated to them what great plenty of corn and wine they should have
in Canaan, so much that a little would not be missed out of their fruits: they
should have enough for themselves and all their friends. 2. It provided for the
support of poor travellers, to relieve the fatigue of their journey, and teaches
us to be kind to such. The Jews say, "This law was chiefly intended in
favour of labourers, who were employed in gathering in their harvest and
vintage; their mouths must not be muzzled any more than that of the ox when he
treads out the corn." 3. It teaches us not to insist upon property in a
small matter, of which it is easy to say, What is that between me and thee?
It was true the grapes which the passenger ate were none of his own, nor did the
proprietor give them to him; but the thing was of so small value that he had
reason to think were he present, he would not deny them to him, anymore than he
himself would grudge the like courtesy, and therefore it was no theft to take
them. 4. It used them to hospitality, and teaches us to be ready to distribute,
willing to communicate, and not to think every thing lost that is given away.
Yet, 4. It forbids us to abuse the kindness of our friends, and to take the
advantage of fair concessions to make unreasonable encroachments: we must not
draw an ell from those that give but an inch. They may eat of their neighbour's
grapes; but it does not therefore follow that they may carry away.